New AHF and RHD Clinical Guidelines 2020

The 2020 Australian guideline for prevention, diagnosis and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (3rd edition) was released on 28 February. Available at https://www.rhdaustralia.org.au/arf-rhd-guideline, it is the definitive guide to current ARF and RHD diagnosis and management in Australia.

There are a number of important clinical changes in this new version that will impact on the management of the patients on the SA RHD register. These include changes to:

• The diagnostic criteria for ARF in low risk populations and recurrent episodes
• Recommendations for the duration of secondary prophylaxis
• Priority definitions and timing of follow-up in the ‘priority classification system’ for presence and severity of RHD

The 2020 version also has some new chapters including culture and workforce where a socio-ecological model stresses the importance of focusing on the individual and their culture in all clinical interactions. Check out the five minute video (found at the above address) outlining the changes from the 2012 version